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From an out-of-date nunnery to a modern family home

From an out-of-date nunnery to a modern family home

Located in the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto, this home was built in the 1970s as an abbey to six nuns. Although the six bedrooms made a cozy home for the nuns, the partial walls, tiny kitchen and odd corners made the house cramped and closed off for its new homeowners – a young and modern Toronto family.

Interior Designer: Jude Kamal, ARIDO
Design firm: Sansa Interiors
Photographer: Bruno Belli

Kitchen is white with wood accents and industrial style lighting above the island

Our team at Sansa Interiors beautifully renovated this city house of 3,600 square feet and turned it into a modern, open and earthy home. We knew that the best approach was to open up the interior to take full advantage of all the space they had available. As a young family, maximizing their living space while delivering a clean and modern look, was a top priority.

Dining area in mid century style
Fire place with the vertical wooden slat detail, and white flat surface encasing the opening of the fire place. Built-in shelving on both sides of the fireplace

We opened up the interiors making it easier for the family to entertain guests and create greater visibility for when their kids are playing in the other room. We reconfigured the entire main and second floor, fully customized the bathroom and kitchen and made a more full-sized master bedroom.

Fire place with the vertical wooden slat detail, and white flat surface encasing the opening of the fire place. Built-in shelving on both sides of the fireplace

The family also wanted to feel closer to the outdoors. With natural materials, earthy tones and custom millwork, we gave the family the organic, fresh and functional space they were seeking. The design brings nature in and provides for an indoor-outdoor space that allows our client to expand their space beyond traditional boundaries.

A view of the smaller bathroom toward the tub, with a wood coloured vanity against the sage green wall tile and the red and white fun patterned wall paper on the opposite wall visible in the mirror. The hardware and mirror are industrial style with black finishes
Kid's bedroom with a fun wall paper on one section of the wall and two pieces of art work above the bed. The light fixture that hangs above the bed is made of rattan

Having a cohesive concept from start to finish, enabled us to design a fresh yet functional interior that our clients were seeking. Once complete, this home became completely unrecognizable! With a reconfigured main and second floor, new bathroom, extra bedroom, and a larger full-sized primary bedroom with an ensuite, this full house renovation gave our clients the space they deserved with the aesthetic they desired.

  • Ensuite bathroom in wood finish with industrial style mirrors and lighting and hardware in black colour, stained glass door with blue coloured frame
  • Clean and simple mudroom area by the exit to the back yard
  • Clean and white main bedroom
  • Ensuite bathroom vanity in wood finish with industrial style mirrors and lighting and hardware in black colour
  • Living room in light and wood coloured finishes and slat detail on the fire place
  • Kitchen and dining area in a white and wood combination finishes. The dining table and chairs is modern century inspired with accent lighting above
  • Kitchen is white with wood accents and industrial style lighting above the island
  • A view of the open concept kitchen, dining and living area in a predominantly white and neutral colour scheme with wooden accents throughout. Fire place in the living room at the back of the photo has a vertical wooden slat detail
  • Fire place with the vertical wooden slat detail, and white flat surface encasing the opening of the fire place. Built-in shelving on both sides of the fireplace
  • Dining area in mid century style
  • Entrance to the bathroom from the main bedroom, with simple floor to ceiling closet along the wall on the right
  • Kid
  • A detail of the smaller bathroom with a wood coloured vanity against a fun red and white patterned wall paper on the side wall and sage coloured vertical tile on the front wall. The hardware and mirror are industrial style with black finishes
  • A view of the smaller bathroom toward the tub, with a wood coloured vanity against the sage green wall tile and the red and white fun patterned wall paper on the opposite wall visible in the mirror. The hardware and mirror are industrial style with black finishes
  • Simple stair case leading to the second floor and beside it the original window stained glass detail
  • Main bathroom shower in white tile and black hardware, and beside it a narrow built in shelf
Jude Kamal

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Jude Kamal

Sansa Interiors Inc.

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